BJP's Muslim lawmaker receives threatening letter for siding with ruling party

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Muslim lawmaker, Aminul Haque Laskar, received a letter threatening him of serious consequences if he didn't vacate his party seat in 15 days time, the Hindustan Times reported.



Laskar, an MLA from Sonai from Cachar district, received a handwritten letter on Satuday, with two bullets of a 0.32 pistol taped on it, the letter was written in Bengali red ink.

The letter was sent from Karmganj on May 22, and was received by the BJP lawmaker on June 9, accused him of siding with the ruling party despite being a Muslim, said the 52-year-old BJP lawmaker.

It is suggested that the letter was reportedly sent by the Barak Valley unit of the Save Secure and Development Protection Force of Muslims, a relatively unknown organisation.



Laskar has filed a complaint against unidentified people at the Silchar police station.

Additionally, the letter also accused Laskar for not opposing the citizenship (amendment) bill 2016.

The letter probably came from illegal business or mafia groups that were affected by the bill, Laskar said.

Currently, Assam is facing opposition against a proposed bill in the legislative assembly that seeks to grant citizenship to religious minorities present in the state.



An investigation has been launched into the matter, said Indrajit Chakraborty, in charge if the Silchar police station, adding that they are hoping to nab the suspects responsible for sending the letter soon.

Laskar is the only Muslim candidate fielded by BJP, who emerged victorious in 2016’s assembly elections.

This story originally appeared in The Hindustan Times